THREW UP THE SPONGE AND THIRTY-FIVE DAYS EACH

Kid McCoy.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, December 18, 1897.

THREW UP THE SPONGE.

McCoy Forced Creedon to Quit In Fifteen Rounds.

THE "KID" IS SIMPLY A WONDER.

Creedon Never in the Game. McCoy Adopting His Old Jabbing Tactics, Wearing His Opponent Down and Cutting the Life Out of Him.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 18.—Norman Selby of Rush county, Indiana, better known in pugilistic circles as Kid McCoy, is undoubtedly the middleweight champion pugilist of the world.

   He met Dan Creedon of New Zealand last night in the arena of the Puritan Athletic club at Long Island City, and after fighting 15 lively rounds made the foreigner throw up the sponge and acknowledge the knowledge the "Rooster's" superiority.

   Long before the big event took place the frame building in which it was held was crowded to excess, and bets were freely made with McCoy the favorite at 10 to 8.

   The Kid's wonderful science and self-possession was always in evidence, and these combined with the advantage of height and reach enabled him to outpoint his more stockily-built antagonist [sic]. From the moment, that the men put up their hands in the opening round McCoy's stock began to ascend. It was "boosted" so rapidly that at the end of the sixth round McCoy's backers were offering 3 to 1 on their man.

   "McCoy is a wonder," was the universal comment when the fight was over and no one, even those who bet against him, begrudged him his well-won laurels.

   Charley White, who trained Bob Fitzsimmons for his fight with Peter Maher and later trained Corbett for his bout with Fitzsimmons in Carson City last St. Patrick's day, was one of the most interested spectators in the arena. He watched every move made by both men and when they had left the ring said:

   "In all my ring experience I have never seen such a magnificent exhibition by a middleweight as that given by McCoy tonight, and he is undoubtedly the greatest middleweight of the age, and if Fitzsimmons is out of the business as a middleweight the Hoosier has no peer.

   "He gave an excellent illustration of the improved style, inaugurated by Jack Dempsey and improved by Jim Corbett.

   "In this fight he was not even hurried, and now the best of us are simply guessing as to how good a man the Kid is. He has all the physical advantages and if he takes good care of himself it will be a long time before he meets with defeat."

   Forty-five hundred seats, each of which sold originally for $10, were filled and as many more persons failed to get into the club house. Many well known sporting characters were there and $100,000 probably changed hands on the result. The ring was 20 feet square [sic]. Neither principal made any objection to that size.

Patrick J. Gleason.

MAYOR PATRICK GLEASON

Said It Would Not Be a Prize Fight(?)

Corbett Says a Few Words.

   Mayor Patrick J. Gleason made a speech from the ring before the fight began, in which he said:

   "I can assure you that any person who came here to see a prize fight had better go right now to the box office and get his money back. This ring will only be occupied by men who take part in boxing contests."

   Jim Corbett stepped into the ring. He said: "Gentlemen—I am glad to see you all here and am grateful for your kind reception. All I can say is that those who never saw a contest in the fistic ring will see one of the cleanest, best and hardest ever fought, and those who are acquainted with such contests will agree with every word I have said."

   Dan Creedon entered the ring at 9:53. He was accompanied by Joe Choynski, Tom Tracey and Bennie Murphy. Creedon was in excellent condition and looked very confident.

   Five minutes later McCoy jumped through the ropes. McCoy's seconds were Homer Selby (McCoy's brother), Doc Payne and Tommy West.

   Very little time was lost in putting on the gloves and the men shook hands at10:10 o'clock. When they did so, McCoy's advantage in height and reach were very apparent. Creedon was four inches shorter than McCoy, but he was stockily built and every muscle was clearly developed.

   McCoy was in excellent shape and nodded in confidence to his friends in the scats and the ring near his corner.

   The announcer said the men would fight 25 rounds, and if at the end of the 25th round the referee, Sam Austin, could not pick a winner, the men would continue fighting until the referee could give a decision. He also said that the contest was to decide the middleweight championship of the world.

Rius Rivera Not Pardoned.

   HAVANA, Dec. 18.—Developments of the last few days show that the rebel general, Rius Rivera, who was a prisoner for several months in Cabana fortress, has not been freed by royal pardon, as was reported, but merely transferred to a prison in Spain, where he will be imprisoned until his case is disposed of.

   Advices received here from San Juan, Porto Rico, state that when the steamer with General Rivera arrived there he was not allowed to go ashore  even under guard.

Enos. E. Mellon.

THIRTY-FIVE DAYS EACH.

Bowker and Crozier Pleaded Guilty to the Charge of Larceny.

   The case of The People against Glenn Bowker and Edward Crozier, the two young men who were arrested Tuesday night on the charge of robbing Pierce's candy store on North Main-st. was set down for 10 o'clock in police court this morning, but it was nearly noon before the case was taken up. The police court room was crowded almost to suffocation by a morbid crowd of curiosity seekers. Bowker and Crozier pleaded guilty to the charge.

   Attorney James Dougherty appeared in behalf of the boys, and addressed the court at some length, saying that he had no sort of sympathy for such a class of boys as were constantly filling the jails, prisons and poorhouses. He said that this was the first offence of the boys in question, which is a mitigating circumstance. Other mitigating circumstances are the youth of the prisoners, and their truthfulness in pleading guilty to the charge. He urged clemency in the passing of sentence which was deferred until 1 o'clock this afternoon, when Police Justice Mellon sentenced each to thirty-five days in jail, speaking substantially as follows:

   You two young men have been arrested upon the charge of a serious crime. The poor man whose goods you took charged you with larceny, and you have pleaded guilty to the charge. You come from good families, well connected. The situation which you face here is unfortunate for you in being the first to be nipped of what might lead to the gang of housebreakers who operated here last winter. The police have been making some very close investigations. I find also in investigating that you have been deceiving your best friends. When it comes to the point where two young men like you have in your possession a key that will fit a store in this tow, something certainly ought to be done. You are not hardened criminals, but when you come forth from serving your sentence you will have the opportunity of redeeming yourselves in the sight of your parents and friends. Your parents and relatives have tried to do all for you they could. The mistake is entirely your own. There are circumstances in this case which make it much worse than the ordinary. You stole from this man who is trying honestly in a small way to gain a living. You have both told your friends that this was the first time you have ever undertaken this sort of thing. Honest boys do not get in their possession keys that fit other people's houses and stores. My position is this, that I stand between 10,000 people and you two boys. It seems to me that with the lesson you have learned, you will find that the way of the transgressor is hard. The sentence of the court is that you, Edward Crozier and Glenn Bowker, be confined in the Cortland county jail for the term of thirty-five days each. Should I send you to the Onondaga penitentiary you would be branded criminals for your lives. But as it is, you will have a chance to redeem yourselves and become the right kind of citizens.

   I have another word to say in another direction. When any trouble comes up there are a great number of people who seem to know more about it than they ought. There are young men and boys, who if they continue to travel their present road will land in the penitentiary or Rochester Industrial school. If the coat fits any one here they may put it on. The statute of the state is my guide; I have no fears, favors or prejudices. I have no desire to make criminals myself, yet there are young men here to-day who have the prison doors not far ahead of them.

CORA PHILLIPS PLEADED GUILTY

And Sentenced to Four Days in the County Jail.

   Immediately after the disposition of the Bowker and Crozier larceny cases in police court this afternoon, the case of The People against Cora Phillips was taken up. She was charged with stealing a bunch of keys from Fred J. Hilligus, and had pleaded not guilty, and demanded a jury trial. The jurymen were in court ready for the case, but it did not come to trial as the defendant through her attorney, Thomas H. Dowd. interposed a plea of guilty, and asked the mercy of the court. Police Justice Mellon then sentenced her to four days in jail, and ordered her to leave Cortland at the expiration of that time, or a previous sentence of fifty-nine days which was suspended, would be put into execution.

Fast mail train at Cincinnatus, N. Y.

New Station on the E. & C. N. Y. R. R.

   The station at East Freetown has been added to the time schedule of the Erie & Central New York R. R. This is 3.31 miles beyond Solon and 11.94 miles from the Lehigh Valley station in Cortland. The tracklayers have got into the town of Cincinnatus and are now one and a half miles east of the East Freetown station.

BRANCH AT CINCINNATUS.

J. C Seager Anticipates the Completion of the New Railroad.

   J. C. Seager, the coal dealer, has opened a branch establishment at Cincinnatus, N. Y., which will be run in connection with his business here in Cortland. He will sell coal, feed, fertilizers, cement, shingles, etc., and will also buy produce of the farmers. Until the railroad is completed to Cincinnatus he will conduct his business from East Freetown, the present terminus of the road. This will be a great convenience to the residents of that section of the county.

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Stowell, Christmas Rush, page 8; A. Mahan, Musical Goods, page 7; C. F. Brown, Cameras, page 7; F. E. Brogden, Cigars, page 6.

   —There will be a special conclave of Cortland commandery, No. 50, K. T., to the asylum on Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock. Every Sir Knight is requested to be present.

   —Sheriff A. Hilsinger is making preparations to return to his old home in Marathon at the close of his term of office Jan. 1, where he will re-engage in the meat business at his former stand.

   —The funeral of Mrs. Catharine Jagger was held from her late home on Reynolds-ave. at 11:30 o'clock yesterday morning, and was largely attended. The floral tributes were numerous and many of them beautiful, among them being a handsome wreath from Orris Hosee Co., of which E. E. Mellon is an honorary member, Mrs. Jagger being Mr. Mellon's foster mother.

   —It is now expected that Rhea will play in Cortland next Wednesday night, Dec. 22, in "The Empress of France." The date of Thursday, Dec. 23, which was previously announced fell through, but Wallace & Gilmore have pushed the matter till they now feel reasonably sure of Wednesday, Dec. 22. This play is said to be far finer than "Neil Gwynne," in which she played here last year.